18524343. Methods and Systems for Dithering Active Sensor Pulse Emissions simplified abstract (WAYMO LLC)

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Methods and Systems for Dithering Active Sensor Pulse Emissions

Organization Name

WAYMO LLC

Inventor(s)

Michael Marx of Mountain View CA (US)

Pierre-Yves Droz of Los Altos CA (US)

Methods and Systems for Dithering Active Sensor Pulse Emissions - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18524343 titled 'Methods and Systems for Dithering Active Sensor Pulse Emissions

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a device with multiple emitters that illuminate different portions of a field-of-view (FOV) and a controller that coordinates the emission of light pulses from these emitters during a scan.

  • The device includes multiple emitters, such as a first emitter and a second emitter, that emit light to illuminate different parts of the FOV.
  • A controller in the device obtains a scan of the FOV and triggers each emitter to emit a light pulse during a specific time period associated with the scan.
  • The controller controls the timing of the light pulses from each emitter, ensuring they are emitted at specific time offsets from the start time of the emission period.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in various fields such as:

  • LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles
  • 3D scanning and mapping devices
  • Augmented reality and virtual reality headsets

Problems Solved

This technology addresses issues such as:

  • Efficient and accurate scanning of a wide FOV
  • Minimizing interference between multiple emitters
  • Precise control of light pulses for different applications

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

  • Improved scanning accuracy and resolution
  • Enhanced performance in complex environments
  • Versatile applications in different industries

Potential Commercial Applications

The potential commercial applications of this technology could include:

  • Automotive industry for advanced driver-assistance systems
  • Surveying and mapping companies
  • Consumer electronics for AR/VR devices

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be the use of multiple emitters in LiDAR systems for scanning and mapping applications. Another could be the synchronization of light pulses in optical communication systems.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact power consumption in devices using it?

The patent application does not provide information on the power consumption implications of this technology. Further research or testing would be needed to determine the impact on power usage.

What are the potential limitations of this technology in terms of environmental conditions?

The patent application does not discuss the limitations of this technology in different environmental conditions. It would be important to understand how factors like weather, lighting, and obstacles could affect the performance of the device.


Original Abstract Submitted

One example device comprises a plurality of emitters including at least a first emitter and a second emitter. The first emitter emits light that illuminates a first portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of the device. The second emitter emits light that illuminates a second portion of the FOV. The device also comprises a controller that obtains a scan of the FOV. The controller causes each emitter of the plurality of emitters to emit a respective light pulse during an emission time period associated with the scan. The controller causes the first emitter to emit a first-emitter light pulse at a first-emitter time offset from a start time of the emission time period. The controller causes the second emitter to emit a second-emitter light pulse at a second-emitter time offset from the start time of the emission time period.